Here's the latest graphic novel by the creator of the Copacetic favorite, Meanwhile, that was published by Abrams last year (nearly a decade after Shiga self-published it). Empire State is, however, quite a different kettle of fish. It is a pop-culture savvy tale of bi-coastal romance that has the feel of a roman á clef and is much closer is style and content to its immediate precursor, Bookhunter, that was published in 2007 by those stalwart supporters of independent comics, Sparkplug Comic Books. Empire State is a 144 page, two-color hardcover that is durably constructed and considerately priced.